November 20, 2015
Worship: Thy Mercy, My God, Is the Theme of My Song by John Stocker
TEXT:
MUSIC:
Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song,
The joy of my heart. and the boast of my tongue;
Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last,
Hath won my affections, and bound my soul fast.
The joy of my heart. and the boast of my tongue;
Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last,
Hath won my affections, and bound my soul fast.
Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here;
Sin would reduce me to utter despair;
But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive,
And He that first made me still keeps me alive.
Sin would reduce me to utter despair;
But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive,
And He that first made me still keeps me alive.
Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart,
Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart;
Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground,
And weep to the praise of the mercy I’ve found.
Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart;
Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground,
And weep to the praise of the mercy I’ve found.
Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own,
And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son;
All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine
Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine.
And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son;
All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine
Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine.
All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine
Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine.
©2001 Same Old Dress Music (ASCAP).
Lyrics and reflections on the lyrics by Sarah McCracken: http://hymnbook.igracemusic.com/hymns/thy-mercy-my-god
Video: https://youtu.be/vUEgqGNFiMs
Witness: Thy mercy, my God is the theme of my song. These words arrested my attention. I was searching for a song to worship tonight according to the theme of Psalm 23:6. I first came across a video by someone who said they weren’t sure who was singing this song they used for their video. They thought it was Sarah McCracken. I listened to the words and thought, “these words are deep and theologically rich. They don’t sound like they were written by someone writing songs today.” With a little searching, I found a video with Sarah McCracken singing this song. I then looked up the lyrics and found the link referenced above, which said that the words were originally penned by John Stocker in 1776, and it all made sense. Sarah shares how she discovered the song and created a new tune for it. She also shares some reflection on the song as well.
The hymns of that era were rich and deep theologically. I am not saying that there are not some theologically rich songs sung today, nor am I demeaning songs written today as if they are inferior (that can be said of some new as well as some old ones). I am saying that we need to revisit the hymns and learn from them. Recast them with a new tune if necessary, we will be the richer spiritually for it. However, our taste in music style should not keep us from singing the old hymns. I recently read something written online saying they liked hip-hop, but couldn’t find any Christian music today singing in that style (maybe because that genre in Christian music retired when DC Talk disbandedJ). I thought, this person is really limiting themselves by getting stuck in the rut of style over substance. Let us worship with the view of listening to what we are singing rather than the mode in which it is delivered. After all, if the style of music was that important to God, I believe He would have included the music score to each Psalm, yet He left us only the words, He left the music to which they may be sung up to his people (within of course the parameters of decency).
WORD:
Ps 23:5-6
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. NIV |
Ps 23:5-6
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
KJV
|
How do God’s goodness and mercy pursue us? My thoughts are racing with the implications of this. Certainly, it refers to, as the Expositor’s Bible Commentary puts it:
The psalmist expresses deep confidence in God’s loyalty. Instead of being pursued by enemies who seek His destruction, God’s ‘goodness and love’ follow Him. He need not fear, because God’s care will always manifest itself in His provisions, abundance, and protection. His loving care follows him throughout life.
Clarke says:
God never leaves his true followers; providential mercies, gracious influences, and miraculous interferences, shall never be wanting when they are necessary.
(from Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
In terms of protection “goodness and Mercy” have my back. In terms of provision they provide wisely what I need. I also believe there is an inkling of the thought of correction here as well. In pursuing us through life we are bound to fall down. God’s goodness and mercy are there to pick us up and show us the right path to take. Notice it says, “all the days of my life”. David cannot think of a time when God did not pursue him. From birth to grave, God in His mercy and grace pursues the good of those He foreknew from eternity. Wiersbe points out that the phrase “goodness and mercy” is the Old Testament version of Romans 8:28:
In spite of his sins and failures, he had been followed by goodness and mercy, which is the Old Testament equivalent of Rom 8:28.
(from The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament © 2001-2004 by Warren W. Wiersbe. All rights reserved.)
I would suggest that this verse is the equivalent not only of Romans 8: 28 but of 29 - 39
Rom 8:28-39
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
NIV
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